If you enjoy a sudden sense of not quite right or an urban legend that ends in unfinished business for a deceased soul, you’re not alone. Travelers crave experiences that are out of the ordinary – be it for fun or fright, or to test their own fortitude. Paranormal travel is on the rise as visitors flock to locations where they can brush shoulders with ghosts in the spaces where they lived, the stories that outlived them, or the phantom shadows and orbs of light they emit to give us a hint of their presence. A chance encounter with the supernatural is a compelling reason to explore new places, especially ones with a reputation for walking side-by-side with spirits.

Hauntings and history go hand-in-hand in Washington, North Carolina. This small town on the banks of the Pamlico River has been around since 1776 and boasts paranormal activity to prove it. Walking through its lovely downtown filled with markets, boutiques and restaurants, the historic buildings and even the river itself simmer with stories of those who came before. As the locals will tell you, some of the long gone still hang around and will make themselves known to those who pay attention.

Terry Rolillns, the longtime children’s librarian at Washington’s Brown Library, doubles as the keeper of the town’s ghost stories. The leader of Washington Haunts ghost tour for more than a decade, he’s done his research and encountered a few ghosts.

"Everybody wants to tell you a good ghost story and I get to hear a lot because of what I do," he says. "The most famous Washington ghost story is of Reverend George Washington Carawan who haunts the old Beaufort County Courthouse where he went on trial for murdering a school teacher."

The murdering minister made a famous last stand after being declared guilty in 1853. He caused mayhem in the courtroom when he pulled two concealed pistols from his person and began shooting around the room. Though others were injured, the only life he took was his own, determined not to hang for his crimes. Some 170 years later, those who work in the old Beaufort County Courthouse can sometimes hear the melee of broken glass, shrieking, and gunshots as the ghost of Reverend Carawan relives his final moments. When they go to investigate the sounds coming from the courtroom, there’s not a chair out of place.

This is one of a dozen haunted tales illuminated on the Washington Haunts ghost tour. Under Rollins’ care, visitors walk nearly one mile around graveyards, historic buildings, houses and even the river itself hearing tales of local spirits. His model for attracting visitors to hear the haunted history is popular – and profitable.

Haunted attractions and experiences like ghost tours can be found all over the United States and generate approximately $300 million in ticket sales annually, according to industry group American Haunts. Depending on the location, this can mean more profits for the community hosting the experience. Visitors are drawn to the thrill of being scared in a safe environment. They come for the ghost tour and stay to experience the hotels, restaurants, shops, and more during their visit. For states like North Carolina, where Washington resides, tourism is reaching record levels. In 2022, trips within and two the state amounted to $33.3 million in tourism.

Those in the business of drawing visitors would do well to discover a few lost souls and get in on the rise in paranormal tourism. This supernatural trend is taking friendly frights to new places, and bringing a willing audience with it.

To book your supernatural trip to Washington, NC, visit: https://visitwashingtonnc.com/#/